I LOVED this book! I found it when we reviewed series books in class and had to go to the library to find another book about the same topic. I couldn't put it down! I actually came home and finished reading it the same night. I love history in general, but I realized that I know virtually nothing about San Francisco or its historical setting. I found the pictures and the illustration fascinating for two reasons -- the profound impact of the earthquake knocking buildings over and sinking them into the ground, but also because the time period and the architecture are so similar to Chicago and St. Paul, where I grew up. Because of that similarity, I kept picturing what would have happened if half of St. Paul had burned down in such recent history as 1906! The house where I grew up in St. Paul was itself built in 1908 and resembled some of the homes shown in the book.

I loved the inclusion of various kinds of visual images from both paintings and illustrations to handbills from the mayor on public health issues,, before-and-after photographs, and other artifacts, like a melted china cup and saucer. The book also included a detailed map showing which parts of the city burned in relationship to major landmarks described, and explained the basics of plate tectonics so the reader could understand how the earth's plates shifted to impact the city.

I was engrossed in the personal narratives of the children involved, telling their experience of the event. I can't really think of a specific purpose I would use this book for, but I definitely think my students would like it! ( )

The Day That Changed America-Shelley Tanaka

Earthquake
Gettysburg
The Alamo
Attack on Pearl Harbor
D-Day ( )